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From the Principal

August 21, 2026

Good People,

As we kick off a new school year, I want to share a piece of my story with you. Strong relationships built on trust, transparency, and partnership are at the heart of a thriving school—and that starts with getting to know one another!

Here is a little about who I am and what guides my leadership:

Roots in Education & Equity: Growing up in Minnesota alongside an older sister with special needs showed me early on the power of an inclusive, supportive school environment. From tutoring peer classmates in middle school, elementary students during high school and middle school students during college, to majoring in American Racial & Multicultural Studies, Education and Spanish at St. Olaf, my passion has always been creating spaces where every child feels seen, heard and valued.
Experience in the Classroom & Beyond: I spent years as a Spanish teacher before moving into leadership and now teaching future school leaders at Concordia University. Every administrative decision I make is rooted in my core perspective as a teacher and mom.
Our Vision for Sanford: Together with Assistant Principal Ashleigh and our dedicated staff, our focus this year is strong roots and meaningful growth. We are committed to nurturing a safe, welcoming community of curious, compassionate and open-minded learners.

I’d love to hear from you, too! What are your hopes for your student this year? Feel free to reply directly to this email or drop by during our upcoming Site Council and PTA meetings.

In Partnership,

Naida Grussing-Neitzel, Ed.S.

Principal

Maria Sanford Middle School

Lunch & Recess

At Sanford all students have a grade level lunch and recess time. Students are very eager to get to the lunchroom but need to walk to the basement for lunch with their class and grade.

During the first week of school at lunch, all students will be assigned tables by the teacher they have directly before their assigned lunch. So for 6th graders, they will sit with their period 2 class, 7th graders with their period 3 class and 8th graders with their period 4 class. Once we feel that the students have learned the routines in the lunch room, we will release them to sit with friends. Typically this goes very fast for our 7th and 8th graders. The beauty of this method is that all new students will have a softer start to the lunchroom in which they do not need to scramble for a seat.
Supervising the lunchroom and recess are our 5 deans, our Assistant Principal and our Principal. For the first two weeks our Social Workers and School Counselor will also connect with students during this time in the lunchroom.
Breakfast and Lunch continue to be free for all students. This year our nutrition department is working on an additional grab and go option to provide some options to our students other than the two lunch line options we will continue to offer. View detailed, up-to-date menus in your preferred language on SchoolCafe, including nutrition facts and allergens.
Additionally, we have purchased a few standing height tables for students who prefer to stand and eat.

Our district Culinary and Wellness Team is looking forward to meeting the needs of each student. More information, including menus, can be found here: https://www.mpschools.org/departments/cws

Site Council

Caregivers have the opportunity to participate in Sanford's site council which meets monthly throughout the school year. If you are interested in participating this year, please reach out to Principal Naida or visit our first meeting next week Tuesday at 5:00pm in the Media Center.

Purpose of the Site Council:

The Site Council supports the administration, staff and district in fulfilling the mission of Sanford Middle School. The Site Council works for the common good of all Sanford’s students and community members. Sanford Vision: Everyone belongs. Together we thrive. Sanford Mission: At Sanford, we strive to create a community of curious, collaborative, open-minded global citizens.

Role of the Site Council:

The Site Council performs advisory duties as defined in Minneapolis Public Schools

Policy 1692. Its larger role is to nourish working partnerships among staff and

administration, families, and the district.

More information can be found at this link: https://www.mpschools.org/departments/engagement/site-councils

Who do I contact?

Principal Naida Grussing-Neitzel, Ed.S. - Office 612-668-4901 - Cell 612-730-1803

Assistant Principal & Athletic Director Ashleigh Miller, Ed.S - 612-668-4902 - Cell

School Secretary Sarah Manno 612-668-4900

Office Assistant at Door 12 Marcus Mitchell 612-668-4900

After School Coordinator Lissa Gordon 612.668.4922

Social Worker Becky Wessman, LSW - 612-668-4916

Social Worker Parker Holmboe, LICSW 612-668-4930

School Counselor Dylan Merrick - 612-668-4905

School Nurse Lisa Kocon, RN- 612-668-4934

Health Assistant/Licensed Practical Nurse Roshana Noble

Behavior Dean Lead Trill Carter

Grade 6 Dean Dejah Taylor

Grade 7 Dean Shawntra Esaw

Grade 8 Dean Greg Marshall

Student Class Schedules

Student schedules will be finalized by Wednesday, September 2, 2026. Our staff is using their initial days back to review and make necessary adjustments to ensure every student is set up for success. Please keep the following in mind regarding schedule changes:

Adjustments are rare and require administrator approval.
Changes will only be made for duplicate or missing classes.

from the Parent Teacher Association

Hello Sanford community! We hope you are enjoying your summer and recharging for the upcoming school year. See below for some announcements and important dates.

First PTA Meeting of the year August 25th

Join us in the media center at Sanford on August 25th from 6:00p-7:30p for our first meeting of the year. Principal Naida and our new Vice Principal Ahleigh will be there with updates on next school year as well as discussions on volunteer opportunities and school events. Please enter through the main entrance to the school on 42nd Avenue. All are welcome!

School Grounds Clean up on August 31st

The Sanford PTA is hosting a school grounds clean-up on Monday, August 31, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm to get the school looking its best before Open House. Meet in the school courtyard on 36th Street. The PTA will provide materials and some beverages and snacks. Blue Door Pub offers $5 burgers on Mondays for those interested, and we'll bring some gaga balls and basketballs for socializing after the clean up.

PTA Email Communication

Want to know more about what is happening at Sanford? You can sign up for our email communications by sending an email to: sanfordmspta@gmail.com.

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